The CFO Show

Dive into the pivotal role of finance in driving business strategy. Learn how aligning investments with company goals can optimize performance. Explore how to define strategic investments using zero-based approaches for high ROI. Discover the often-overlooked spends that can make a significant impact. Hear expert insights on fostering organization-wide alignment and the importance of tough conversations in finance. Plus, get actionable leadership tips for navigating change and making tough trade-offs.

We made it to 2024, not unscathed, but with a new year and fresh outlook on the economy. Yet what created the uncertainties in the markets these past several years is still driving uncertainty. To run our business and our lives, most of us want to know: when will interest rates start to drop? Will employment rates stay strong? And a big question, with big impact: are wage increases on the horizon?For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com. This week, host Melissa Howatson gets to ask one of Canada’s leading economists all this and more. Benjamin Tal, Managing Director and Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC Capital Markets Inc, shares his insights, predictions and more.Discussed in This Episode:Anticipation of normalizing labor markets and the impact on wagesThe lingering uncertainties in the global markets and the factors contributing to economic unpredictabilityHow AI can affect profitability and long-term business strategiesFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

How can CFOs escape the daily grind to focus on strategic initiatives that are increasingly being asked of them? Our day-to-day financial responsibilities are constantly competing with the pressing need for organizational innovation from financial leadership.In this episode, Nicolas Herman, CFO, Microsoft Americas Enterprise, sits down with Melissa to discuss strategies for building and guiding teams to amplify their impact and offers advice to CFOs on how to differentiate themselves and ultimately leave their mark.For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com. 

How can organizations keep up with constant change in the digital landscape? Your CTO is a big asset in staying agile in an ever-changing business landscape. No longer are they primarily focused on technological needs, but key in working together with the CFO to drive strategic initiatives.Hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller sit down with Joel Dolisy, Chief Technology Officer at WellSky, to explore the vital relationship between finance and technology. Joel discusses the natural tensions between the two functions, what successful partnerships look like, and how they can work together strategically. With consistent communication and thoughtful investment, he explains how aligning finance and technology ultimately drives growth and strengthens the business.Discussed in This EpisodeInsights into the CTO’s role and the key areas they overseeThe unique dynamics between the CTO, the finance team, and other groups across the organizationCommon sources of tension between CTOs and finance departmentsReal examples of effective collaboration between the finance office and the CTOEpisode ResourcesHow To Develop a Finance Business Partnering ModelTransforming Finance as a Strategic Business Partner | 0.5 CPE/CPD CourseFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com. 

Have you ever been frustrated with your work, putting in so much effort, hitting every deadline, to then feel stuck in a never-ending cycle? Never have the time or energy to make the systematic changes needed for more efficient processes?There are many reasons why we feel stuck, but there are also solutions to break the cycle. Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller sit down to acknowledge the frustrating cycles as well as bring answers to how companies can change their systems by thinking bigger, working ahead, and prioritizing the projects needed to grow the business.Discussed in This Episode:Why it’s easy in finance to get wrapped up in the day-to-day and neglect larger projectsHow tracking your time can help teams move forward in the long runReducing teams' stress while also making progress as a teamWhen to look at the bigger picture, even when it comes to small tasksFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

When you hear “Gen-Z,” what are the first words or characteristics that come to mind? Perhaps it’s a motley mix of terms like TikTok, climate change, transparency, honesty, and social responsibility. Now, apply all of those qualities to a modern workforce. Generation Z is defined as anyone born between 1997 and 2012, putting the eldest of the group in their mid-twenties. They are the only generation to grow up blind to a world without the internet which has made them naturally more curious, direct, and technologically and data-savvy than generations prior. Hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller welcome Janine Moir, National Digital Assurance Leader and A&A Innovation Leader at Deloitte Canada to discuss qualities of the demographic that make them unique and ideal additions to today’s workforce. Discussed in This Episode:How Gen-Z is modernizing the workplaceLeadership keys to employee growth and retention Why management isn’t for everyoneWhat makes a great place to workBest advice for finance leadersFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Sukaran Mehta, CFO of Docebo, a global learning platform, shares insights from the company’s post-IPO journey. He discusses the importance of adapting systems and processes, fostering a new culture, and the challenges of investor relations after going public. Sukaran highlights how CFOs must narrate the company story effectively while managing guidance pressures. He also emphasizes the significance of automating financial systems and aligning controls with business goals, all while navigating the evolving market expectations.

The new year is quickly approaching, and after 2023 being the year of AI and economic uncertainty, who knows what 2024 will bring? With more uncertainty on the horizon, including inflation and interest rate fluctuations, predicting the financial landscape in 2024 is a tricky proposition. Nevertheless, preparing for the road ahead is a crucial component of a CFO’s role. Hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller break down their predictions of not only the future of finance but also how finance teams will adapt and evolve in 2024.Discussed in This Episode:Interest rates, inflation, the funding climate, and a potential recessionHow geopolitical uncertainty will impact the finance worldAI and how it will influence the reallocation of tasks and talentThe rise of efficiency and operational excellenceThe ongoing importance of organizational designFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Picture a football game: the quarterback drops back to scan the field, reads the defense, and fires a pass to an open receiver. Touchdown! Now picture a CFO: the quarterback of a finance team, reading the economic landscape, assessing risks, and making smart, decisive moves that score major wins for their organization.The parallels between finance and football run deep. Both professions involve teamwork, competition, practice, adaptability, and pressure. To unpack the similarities, Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller welcome Dan Crumb, CFO of the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, to the show. As Dan explains, football and finance might be different, but success in both requires the same ingredients.Discussed in This Episode:How finance and football approach team-buildingThe equivalent of winning a Super Bowl in financeWhat we can learn from coaches about rallying our teamsKeys to effective communication and teamworkWhy both types of teams must plan for every scenarioResources:How To Use Financial Reporting To Reduce Your Operational Costs, Add Efficiencies, and Align Your Business5 Ways To Adapt Your Financial and Operational Planning for Today's Volatile Business EnvironmentFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com. 

Businesses today spend an average of 52% of their budget on their workforce. Some go as high as 70%. The expense is worth it, of course, as the only way to true financial success is by having the right talent. But given this enormous cost, it’s worth asking: are the people metrics you’re tracking the ones that will make the biggest impact on your business? Or are you missing out on the full potential of your workforce?To help us understand the people metrics that matter, Melissa Howatson welcomes RJ Milnor to the show. RJ is the Founder and CEO of People Analytics Partners and was formerly the Global Head of People Analytics at Uber. Through his research and experience, RJ has uncovered some remarkable insights and truths about the way we work, how it’s evolved post-pandemic, and what the future of work looks like.Discussed in This Episode:The surest indicator of high-value employeesWhat to analyze to see how your M&A integration is goingA viable replacement for productivity-killing meetingsHow to get the greatest ROI out of office spacesOne word of advice for leaders to be more effectiveFor CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.